The problem with expensive environmentalism

Before we get into the specific costs of electric vehicles, there’s something important to consider. If sustainable choices must be made at a great cost, where does that leave lower-income people?

With often hefty upfront costs, things like electric cars and solar panels are out of reach for many of us.

That becomes an issue of environmental justice. If certain acts of sustainability are just for the rich, lower-income people suffer. It’s not just a case of being able to act sustainably — those inside cars inhale the emissions of the vehicle.

If lower-income people are exposed to more emissions — while those in electric cars are not — it’s an issue of environmental justice.

With that in mind, let’s get into the costs of electric cars.

Are electric cars more expensive?

One of the big drawbacks of electric cars is the upfront cost. With the rechargeable revolution a recent thing, the second-hand market is not crammed with electric bargains.

While good deals do exist, electric cars tend to keep their value slightly better than petrol or diesel cars. So in many cases, buying new is the way to go. Buyers can expect to pay around £20,000 for the cheapest models, with added costs for the battery.

Running costs: charging vs refilling

The Nissan Leaf (a ‘budget’ option) costs around £3 to charge from empty. That will give you around 100-150 miles until you need to recharge.

A similar-sized petrol vehicle, meanwhile (the Nissan Micra) will cost around £50 to fill. That will last around 490 miles — in simple terms, the electric vehicle is 3 to 5x cheaper.

Tax relief and repairs

Vehicle Excise Duty (sometimes known as ‘road tax’) is non-existent for many zero-emission vehicles. However, owners of electric cars that cost over £40,000 are now subject to a ‘premium’ tax in years two to six of their ownership.

It’s also worth noting that insuring an electric vehicle may be more expensive, as repairs are often more costly. Some manufacturers demand that batteries are replaced when a car is involved in an accident, to prevent defects down the line. These can be expensive, so insurance premiums have gone up as a result.

With all that being said, it’s thought that electric cars work out cheaper over a vehicle’s lifetime. The costs might be daunting, but cheap charging makes an electric car the right long-term choice for your wallet.

Is the high cost worth it?

Yes, electric cars can be expensive. But the costs are consumed by individuals, not the planet.

That’s not the case for petrol and diesel vehicles, which continue to pollute our airways, oceans, rivers, towns and people.

For those who can afford them, electric cars ease the burden on the planet. We’re hopeful that, with increased demand and improved technology, the prices will come down in the near future. Over to you, Elon.

The climate is facing an unprecedented crisis, and sustainable transport is going to play a big part in the rescue effort. As more barriers to environmentalism come down, we will all be a step closer to making a positive change.

Want to change the world, but don’t know where to start? We work with companies to be more sustainable and profitable — arrange a call with us today.

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Rhys is Conscious Creatives' resident writer and photographer. His work has been published in various online publications, and he was recently chosen to update a bestselling book on SEO. He continues to seek new and interesting angles for his photography work, shooting his local streets on 35mm film.